Thursday, November 29, 2012

Every once in a while I am reminded of Arthur C. Clarke's maxim that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Also, I am reminded that every once in a while a gigantic corporation does something really good for the world and doesn't insist on squeezing everyone to make a huge profit.This is one of those times.

From the "you can't make this stuff up department"

The best part? Aside from having a quick, cheap, effective way to get clean water, the guy heading up the effort is named "Allgood" Tweet

Monday, November 26, 2012

Since the lawyers and the judge obviously didn't get through to him, let me put this in terms Rob Ford will understand: Coach, when there is a penalty flag on the play for say an ineligible receiver or pass interference, you don't get to go out on the field and tell the ref what the call is. You can stand on the sidelines and yell all you want, but it is the ref's decision and you don't get any say in the matter. In fact, if you do go out on the field and tell the ref "that was too an eligible receiver and we refuse to move the ball back and give up the gain and by the way, screw you and your seeing-eye dog! Just because your mother got knocked by a zebra doesn't mean you can tell me what to do, I'm the coach and my team loves me!" the referee is going to throw you out of the game. If you don't give in and play by the rules, you might end up forfeiting the game.

And it doesn't matter how "authentic" Crusty Blatchford thinks you are, you've been at city hall long enough to have heard the phrase "conflict of interest" used and to know it is something to avoid. It wasn't left wing political tricks that made you break the rules. Willful belligerent ignorance may be your style, but it isn't a very good legal defence.

And it doesn't matter whether you or the National Post editorial board or even the judge agree with the way the law is written or the penalties it lays out. You break the law and get caught, you pay the price. Changing the law is whole other kettle of fish.

This is a real column in a real newspaper, not an article from the Onion or some piece of snark from the Daily Show. And the scary part is that about 15 to 20 percent of the voting public in the United States would think it was wise, incisive political analysis.

Op-Ed

She's hot, she's blue collar, she's electable.

The
Republican Party has been doing a lot of hand-wringing and
finger-pointing since the presidential election. Half the conservative
columnists and bloggers say the GOP lost because it overemphasized
social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. The other half says the
party didn't emphasize them enough. And everyone denounces Project
ORCA, the campaign's attempt to turn out voters via technology.

But I've got a suggestion for cutting short the GOP angst: Sarah Palin for president in 2016.
You think I'm joking? Think again.

Honestly, go read the whole thing and ask yourself a few questions - like how long before we see an "exploratory committee" so she can grift some more cash from the gullible fundraise? And who at the Los Angeles Times management level was photographed having sex with a cub scout and how did Charlotte Allen get the negatives? You think I'm joking? Think again.